PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeya Aoki (ranked 22878 p4p, 3745 weight class) and Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lvavatai 's choice of entrance music: Journey. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Aoki
vs
Lvavatai

163 cm
41
143
2 - 0 - 0

171 cm
24
144
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Takeya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Lvavatai misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Lvavatai misses the target.
Lvavatai misses with a straight left.

Aoki scores with a takedown into Lvavatai 's guard.
Aoki has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lvavatai keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lvavatai is keeping the position for now.
Aoki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lvavatai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Lvavatai wants to stand but Aoki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai preventing the sweep.
Aoki is adopting a defensive guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to pass into half guard but Lvavatai pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lvavatai is in guard.

Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lvavatai wants to stand but Aoki is controlling his posture from full guard.

Aoki throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lvavatai uses it to pass to side control.
Aoki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lvavatai 's best efforts.
Aoki tries to get to full guard but Lvavatai has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lvavatai stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Aoki to get to his feet.
Lvavatai with a jab.
Aoki walks into a straight right hand from Lvavatai .

Aoki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Lvavatai is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A lull in the action here.
Aoki tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Lvavatai is defending well.
Lvavatai is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Aoki is controlling him well.
Lvavatai is not content to let Aoki control the position.

Lvavatai sneaks out the side door and pushes Aoki away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lvavatai connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice uppercut there from Lvavatai .
Aoki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lvavatai circles away.
Aoki dives in and grabs Lvavatai 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lvavatai pushes down on Aoki's head and hops out.
Lvavatai throws out a counter right but Aoki avoids it with no problem.
Lvavatai has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lvavatai throws a jab when Aoki was well out of range.
Lvavatai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aoki takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aoki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Aoki lands in his opponent's guard.
Aoki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lvavatai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lvavatai wants to stand but Aoki is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiaoali Lvavatai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Aoki.
A swing and a miss from Lvavatai .
A swing and a miss from Lvavatai .
Decent striking displayed by Lvavatai there.
Aoki shoots in but no luck this time.

Aoki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Aoki stalling.

Lvavatai pushes Aoki off and gets back to his feet.
Takeya Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Aoki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki tries to advance to mount but Lvavatai denies him.

Aoki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Aoki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lvavatai , who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Aoki is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Lvavatai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lvavatai has escaped the position, nice work there.

Aoki is trying to get an arm triangle but Lvavatai is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lvavatai is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Aoki laying and praying for a moment but Lvavatai takes advantage and regains half guard.
Lvavatai is looking to escape.

Aoki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lvavatai has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Aoki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lvavatai on his heels. He'll look to pass Lvavatai 's guard now, I'm sure.
Aoki trying to move into half guard but instead Lvavatai has managed to sweep!

Aoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lvavatai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aoki is trying to control the position but Lvavatai postures up.
Aoki wants to improve his position but instead Lvavatai has moved into half guard.

Lvavatai stands up from half guard.
Aoki blocks a jab.
Aoki moves out of range of the strikes.
Lvavatai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai scores with a punch to the head.
Aoki drops his hands momentarily and Lvavatai takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lvavatai might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Lvavatai shows good takedown defense.
Aoki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lvavatai defends well and Aoki ends up having to push Lvavatai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lvavatai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lvavatai is trying to pull guard but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki tries to pull guard but Lvavatai won't allow it.
Lvavatai fails to pull guard.

Lvavatai pulls Aoki into guard.
Lvavatai is looking to stand up but Aoki isn't so interested in that idea.
Aoki looking to sit in guard and control but Lvavatai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Aoki has a closed guard, preventing Lvavatai from standing up.
Aoki is trying to keep Lvavatai in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiaoali Lvavatai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lvavatai throws a nice looking combination but Aoki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aoki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A cross from Lvavatai lands.
Aoki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lvavatai defends well and Aoki ends up having to push Lvavatai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Aoki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Lvavatai bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Lvavatai misses with a straight right.
Aoki moves forwards but Lvavatai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lvavatai as he avoids it easily.
Lvavatai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lvavatai misses with an uppercut. Aoki saw that one coming.

Aoki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Our spies down at at Alpha Brasil inform us that Lvavatai has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet but Aoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Aoki advances position into side control!

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lvavatai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lvavatai is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiaoali Lvavatai has got the better of the ground game so far.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Lvavatai is defending well.
Aoki wants to control but Lvavatai is keeping him busy.
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet but Aoki drags him back down.
Aoki tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lvavatai keeps working.
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet.
Aoki wants to take a breather but Lvavatai manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Aoki.
Lvavatai keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Lvavatai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aoki is controlling him.
Aoki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai throws a good cross that connects.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Lvavatai .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Aoki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lvavatai throws a right and a left that Aoki avoids nicely.
Lvavatai misses with a hook.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lvavatai is looking to stand up but Aoki isn't so interested in that idea.
Aoki stands and throws Lvavatai 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Aoki is trying to get an arm triangle but Lvavatai is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control the action but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Lvavatai is defending well.
Takeya Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiaoali Lvavatai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lvavatai is not content to let Aoki control the position.

Aoki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lvavatai rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Aoki's guard! Nice work there by Lvavatai !
Lvavatai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiaoali Lvavatai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lvavatai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiaoali Lvavatai !
A very excited looking Tiaoali Lvavatai made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Takeya Aoki had this to say: 'I'm sad. '.